Ken and Jackie Krebs gifted a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible to Duke University in October of 2024. In a heartfelt speech given at the University’s service in celebration of the gift, Ken shares the reason and story behind this gift.
We invite you to read (or watch) Ken’s speech below.
“Unique, Timeless, and Enduring” by Ken Krebs: As Spoken on October 3, 2024
Forty-three years ago, I received a letter that would have a profound impact on my life. I was an undergraduate student at Cornell, applying to law school, when I received a letter from Duke. In that letter, I was notified that I had been accepted at Duke, but also that I would receive a scholarship that would effectively cover my entire tuition.
My father had passed away when I was in college, so, to otherwise go to a prestigious graduate school such as Duke would have been financially daunting. That scholarship was very much a godsend for us at the time – and it brought this kid from a small town in northeast Ohio to this beautiful campus where I received a world-class legal education and made friends and memories that would last a lifetime.
Since that time, I’ve reflected on ways that I might say, “thank you,” for the investment that Duke had made in me – something beyond and apart from the annual monetary pledges. Something that might be special and lasting. Six months ago, a good friend, John Ross, brought forward an opportunity that seemed to meet that definition. He described how Duke had an existing relationship with The Saint John’s Bible, but it was a temporary one involving only a couple of the volumes. This would be an opportunity to extend that to one of permanent ownership of an entire set.
Jackie and I were intrigued. We were already familiar with The Saint John’s Bible and knew it to be this beautiful and vibrant and immersive presentation of God’s Word – unique, timeless, and enduring. But as with any gift, it was our hope that the recipient would share our belief in its value and significance.
So, I asked to meet with the members of the team that would be stewarding the Bible here at Duke to get a better understanding of their vision. I met with members of that team including Dan Train, and Dan explained the myriad of creative and multidimensional ways the Bible might be used. More accurately – how it could be activated because the idea was not for it to sit on a shelf, but to become a dynamic means of outreach, whether it be within the Divinity School, at the other schools here on campus including Duke Law School, at this beautiful chapel, at Duke Hospital, or in the broader Durham community, and with potential for even more.
By the time I left campus that week, I was convinced that not only would Duke be a worthy home for this Bible, but it would be an ideal one. Since that time, Jackie and I have received a number of gracious and kind notes from members of the Duke community thanking us and showing their appreciation, but I can assure you that, given everything Duke has done for me, it has been our honor and privilege to help bring this extraordinary treasure to a place that we love.
For that, we are the ones who are thankful.
The Saint John’s Bible: Igniting the Spiritual Imagination
For more stories similar to this one, visit theHeritage Program blog orsubscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, Sharing the Word.
To learn how you can gift an edition of The Saint John’s Bible to your community, contact Rev. Dr. John F Ross at jross001@csbsju.edu or read this article.